Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday exchanged views with his Singaporean counterpart George Yong-Boon Yeo over telephone on issues concerning tsunami relief in the Indian Ocean areas.

Yeo spoke highly of the large amount of aid provided by the Chinese government for the earthquake and tsunami-hit countries, saying the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries will forever remember China's unselfish assistance.

Singapore is willing to enhance cooperation with China in relief work and reconstruction in disaster-stricken areas, and provide convenience for the Chinese relief staff and materials' accession to disaster-hit areas, he said.

Li praised Singapore's active role in international relief work, saying under the United Nations and ASEAN framework, the Chinese government is, within capacity, willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with various parties including Singapore to continue aid to disaster-hit countries.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the ASEAN special tsunami summit in Indonesia, and is expected to fully confer with other leaders on further aid to disaster-hit countries at the summit, said Li.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2005)